GlobeRunners 2026

GlobeRunners is a very simple free (and open source) PnP deck-building card game.

Find your signature playstyle navigating through more than 7500 cards, build your deck around six main factions and three support factions and be the first to travel around the world.

In this simple 1v1 card game you have to navigate a world map that changes based on environmental factors like the day-night cycle, temperature, and sudden cataclysms. The theme centers on a diverse cast of factions—including sturdy Dwarves, disruptive Demons, and agile Miaous—all racing to be the first to circumnavigate the globe. Each faction has favored biomes, such as mountains or oceans, where they move more efficiently.

Gameplay revolves around the "Trip Chain," where players strategically plan their route by playing character cards and support effects. You spend mana to place cards into stopovers, which are then resolved sequentially. During resolution, cards grant movement based on their base value, but they can also trigger powerful effects if specific conditions are met, such as the current time of day or the orientation of the character's face in the illustration. Support factions like Mages or Engineers add another layer of strategy by manipulating the environment or placing traps directly onto the map.

Interaction is key, as you can play cards defensively to block your opponent’s progress or use abilities to cancel their effects and force them backward. To win, you must optimize your deck’s synergy between main and support factions to overcome environmental obstacles and outpace your rival. The first player to successfully cross the finish line and "claim the globe" is declared the winner.

⚠️ All the illustrations in this project are AI-generated. While I am aware of the board game community's reservations regarding AI, this game is a one-person passion project. Utilizing AI for the artwork was a necessary compromise to make the massive number of unique cards.

—description from the designer